Artificial teeth



Dec. 3, 1929'. J 305 155 1,737,715

ARTIFICIAL TEETH Filed May 12, 1928 Patented Dec. 3, 1929 PATENT QFFEQE'.

HART J. GOSLEE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS ARTIFICIAL TEETH Application filed May 12, 1928. Serial No. 277,142.

This invention relates to improvements in artificial teeth and it consists of the matters hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an artificial tooth structure adaptable for simulating incisors, cuspids, bicuspids and molars and which includes the provision of a substantially full porcelain tooth of modern anatomical outline and a metallic backing secured thereto in a manner to insure a maximum of strength in the tooth which is readily capable of withstanding masticatory stresses.

Another object of the invention is to provide an artificial tooth wherein the porcelain portion has a small round opening in its lingual surface and a definite marginal edge or shoulder to accommodate a metallic backing with an integral post disposed in the opening, the backing including lateral shoulders to abut with like parts on adjacent teeth so that the said shoulders provide means substantially invisible from the buccal and labial sides thereof for connecting adjacent teeth together in bridge formation.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a tooth having incisal ends and occlusal and full labial and buccal surfaces of porcelain and which when assembled with others will afford minimum gingival contact and interproximal spaces thus presenting a more natural and esthetic appearance and being more sanitary in use.

These objects of the invention as well as others to ether with the man advanta es 0 h 0 thereof will more fully appear as I proceed with my specification.

In the drawing Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through an artificial bicuspid tooth embodying my invention, as taken on the line 11 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a view in elevation of the tooth shown in Fig. 1, as from the lingual surface thereof.

Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation of the porcelain body of the improved tooth.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the metallic backing associated with the tooth body shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 a horizontal sectional view through the tooth as taken on the line 55 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a view in elevation of a plurality of teeth embodying my invention arranged in assembled pontic forming relation, as looked at from the buccal side thereof.

Referring now in detail to that embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing, the improved tooth which as shown herein simulates a bicuspid, includes a porcelain body 1 the front or buccal portion of which discloses a full face or crown. Said body is formed with a rearwardly facing vertical ledge or shoulder 2 at each side th reof which extends up over the top or gingival end of-said body. On the rear or lingual side of the body, near the incisal end, is a horizontally disposed, upwardly facing ledge or shoulder 3 which terminates at each end in a short vertical shoulder l spaced from and opposed to the incisal ends of the shoulders 2, to there provide a short vertical channel 5 in each side of the tooth body. This shoulder arrangement provides on the rear or lingual side of the body, a depressed portion 6 which forms a seat for a metallic backing or base associated with the body. In said depressed seat portion 6 near the top thereof is a vertically disposed recess 7 the purpose of which will later appear. 7

8 indicates the metallic backing for the tooth body, preferably made of an alloy of hard gold or other precious metal unaffected by moisture when in use for its intended purpose. Said backing in this instance is of shell form and its vertical edge 9 is of such a contour as to snugly fit against the shoulder 2 of the tooth body while its bottom horizontal edge 10 is of such a contour as to snugly fit the horizontal shoulder 3 of the tooth body. At the top of said backing on the inner face thereof is provided a pin like post 11 adapted to snugly engage in the recess 7 of the tooth body and said post is preferably formed as an integral part of the backing. The lateral bottom portions of the backing as best shown in Fig. l have depending extensions 12-12, one at each side thereof, which when the backing is in place upon a porcelain tooth body, engages in the recesses 5--5 at the incisal end of the tooth body.

Each extension 12 is slightly thicker than the depth of the associated recess 5 and its outer surface is extended upwardly beyond the plane of the bottom edge 10 of the backing shell to form a vertically disposed fiat faced shoulder or abutment 13 as best shown in Fig. 4:. In fixed bridge work the proper teeth to be embodied in the bridge are assembled side by side with the shoulders or abutments in engagement and said shoulders are soldered or otherwise connected together from the lingual side of the teeth. Thus these shoulders provide good bonding portions between the teeth of relatively large area which are substantially invisible from the buccal and labial sides when the bridge is in actual use.

In bridge work such as disclosed in 6 the construction described has many advantages in that both tooth and backing are con- Vex in every direction and present incisal ends and occlusal surfaces and full labial and buccal surfaces of porcelain together with a blunt rounded edge of porcelain for contact with the mucosa in the edentulous spaces.

When one or more of said teeth are asseirbled in bridge relation tooth and backing are such form and shape as will afford minimum gingival contact and large interproximal spaces thus subscribing to the exacting esthetic and sanitary requirement of an ideal pontic in fixed bridge work. Again though the invention has been described as a pontio arrangement it is equally applicable to the construction of dowel crowns in connection with any root end coping.

It provides a tooth having full incisal end and partial lingual and full occlusal surfaces of porcelain and a thin round edge of porcelain for direct contact with mucosa in edentulous spaces. Furthermore the teeth require but a minimum amount of solder in assembly and there is an avoidance of display of metal from the labial or buccal sides thereof. lit permits the provision of the large interproximal spaces as best shown in Fig. 6 as a means for sanitation so that retention of food particles and decomposition thereof which is unsanitary is avoided.

While in describing the invention, I have referred in detail to the form, construction and arrangement of the parts thereof, the same is to be considered as merely illustrative and not as limitations except as maybe specifically set forth in the appended claims.

I claiinas my invention:

1. An artificial tooth comprising a body having a depressed seat portion on its lingual side and a channel in each side of the body from the incisal end thereof opening into said depressed seat portion, said depressed seat portion being provided with an opening in its gingival end, a metallic body disposed upon said depressed seat portion and having an integral post at one end engaged in said opening and having extensions at its other end engaged in said channels, said extensions providing fiat faced abutments for attachment to like abutments of adjacent teeth.

2. A metallic backing for an artificial tooth comprising a shell like body having front edge and a bottom edge, a post integral with the top portion of the shell on the concave side thereof and extensions on the bottom of said shell at the front edges thereof having portions extending below said bottom edge and there providing fiat abutments at each side of said backin In testimony whereof, I have hereunto setmy hand, this 5 day of May, 1928.

HART J. GOSLEE 

